Sweet sketch

Hi stampers!  I told ya I'd be back.  I really liked the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge this week too!   I must have a thing for circles, look:

For this card, I knew I wanted to use some of the spice cake DSP and I've been planning to use the wreath image from the hostess set in the mini for the longest time!  So I inked it up and came up with this:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Warmest of wishes (hostess), grateful greetings, Bright blessings (wheel), woodgrain
Paper:  Spice cake DSP, soft suede, pool party, pear pizazz
Ink:  Pool party, versamark, markers (more mustard, pear pizazz, soft suede)
Accessories:  Scallop circle and circle punches, scallop border punch, smooch accent ink, basic pearls, 3" circle die, gold embossing powder

Again, lots of little details.  I used my woodgrain stamp on the soft suede circle to make it look like it was hung on a door or something.  I meant to add a bow or something but JUST realized I forgot, oops:-)  The sentiment was embossed with gold EP to make it stand out a bit more and it's hard to see but the open leaves have smooch accent ink on them for some extra sparkle.  Lastly, I didn't forget to use a wheel...I ALWAYS forget about them.  I SHOULD have used one on the card I showed you yesterday but like I said, I always forget!  Three little pearls on the top left and it was done!

Still more challenges to go....so I'll be back.  Happy stamping!

Subbing

Hi stampers!  Here's challenge number three for this week!  I also loved the color challenge over at the Colour Q.   Isn't it pretty?????

Now, I did have to do some subbing as I didn't have any orchid opulence which of course is an old color and I've moved on completely.  Yes, I still mourn for a few old colors occasionally but I've embraced the present, hehe.  And really, truth be told I'm not sure I EVER had any orchid.  I was NOT a fan but I have to say I like it here.  So, in place of the orchid I used wisteria wonder which I do like and is one of my favorite colors now!  I think it was a perfect substitute here!  I took a cue from my friend and DT member Renee who loves flowers and I came up with this:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Raining flowers, friendly phrases
Paper:  whisper white, pool party, lucky limeade, rich razzleberry, wisteria wonder
Ink:  wisteria wonder, rich razzleberry
Accessories:  blossom triple layer punch, boho blossom punch, in color polka dot brad, lucky limeade ruffled ribbon, houndstooth embossing folder

I guess I'm digging clean and simple lately!  I wanted to add more to all that white space up top but some things are best left alone!  Most of the time I only use white as a base for what I'm stamping or my main focal image.  I should start using it as more of a stand alone more often, it makes quite a statement!

The flower was made with the intention of the brad in the center and the ribbon looking like the stem/leaves and center of the flower, I like how they tied together so well.  I also love the new houndstooth embossing folder and keep forgetting to use it so here it is! Finally, I just LOVE those little sentiments from friendly phrases and the cute fonts so I just had to pull it out here!  Hope you liked it and hope the DT does too!

One more challenge for the week to go....happy stamping!

Challenge Palooza

Hi stampers!  I've been having stampers withdrawl as of late!!!  There wasn't a whole lot of stamp time this weekend so I've been itching to get into my studio.  Add the fact that I've been inspired by a TON of challenges this week and I was basically freaking out all day until I could STAMP!!!  I even had a list of what to do in what order since the challenges all close at different times, lol!  I got FOUR cards done tonight which is quite a feat!  Nevermind the load of laundry I got done too....ok, well washed and dried, I can put it all away tomorrow, hehe.  So you can look for a load of posts from me in the next few days...I'd like to post them all tonight but even with an energy drink ( I KNOW, I have GOT to stop drinking them) I'm fading fast now...didn't sleep well last night after eating some M&M's after work and having heart burn...who knew...M&M's????  But I'm feeling terrific now that I've got some stamping done (add to the fact that I stayed out of the candy tonight)! 

Anyway, I loved the Inkspirations Sketch Challenge this week and was happy that I got to play along tonight!  This sketch was so fun:

I think this may become a go-to sketch for me.  I have so many ideas for this sketch using different sets!  Can't wait to get my shaker frames from the UPS man tomorrow....too bad I have to work late tomorrow night, 12+ hours on Friday AND then on Saturday too....guess they will have to wait!

Anyway, I immediately thought of using out on a limb for this sketch and it turned out cute!  I've been waiting to use this little witchy woman!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Out on a limb, wicked cool, fang-tastic (retired)
Paper:  2011-2013 in color DSP, more mustard, elegant eggplant, whisper white, basic black
Ink:  Staz-on, craft white, more mustard, basic black, lucky limeade
Accessories:  2.5 inch circle punch, petal cone die, glimmer brads (neutral), dazzling details, elegant eggplant scalloped ribbon, white EP

Squeeee!!!  Isn't she cute????  I went a little polka dot crazy, I know.  I do have to say I love the elegant eggplant scalloped ribbon even if I'm not a huge fan of that color normally.  I thought the card looked a bit neked so I added some bats along each edge of the mustard.  Two finishing touches were to use some dazzling details on the clouds and I embossed the sentiment in white to make it pop and bring out the dots in the ribbon (and you'll have to excuse me for using a retired sentiment BUT it was just perfect here).  Oh, and don't forget my glimmer brad! 

See you soon with another challenge:-)  Happy stamping!

Clean and simple challenge

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday which means it's time for a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  The challenge this week is to make a clean and simple card.

 I really like CAS cards but I find that making them is often a challenge for me....I tend to think that more is more on a card and just keep heaping things on:-)  BUT often times, less really can be more and CAS cards can be stunning!  I have to remember to keep that in mind while I'm stamping!  This is the reason I love challenges though, they push me out of my comfort zone and then it's easier for me to come up with something pretty, like this:

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Falling leaves, woodgrain

Paper:  Lucky limeade, very vanilla, rich razzleberry

Ink:  Lucky limeade, rich razzleberry, pumpkin pie

Accessories:  circle punch, dotted scallop border punch

I used a color combo for this card that I used last week and really liked for fall.  Normally, I like softer combos for autumn but I really liked this one, it's fun.  I think it also works well since the card design is so simple the colors can be a bit more bold without being overwhelming!  I also used a card I made with this same set a few weeks back as inspiration too.  This one is just a bit more simple.  I didn't even need a sentiment since one of the leaves already says "grateful". 

Now click on over and see what else the DT came up with and then play along and make a CAS card!

Easy event - wedding

Hi stampers, in honor of labor day here is an EASY card I made the other night.  It's one you can make without a lot of labor:-)  I told you we had a wedding on Saturday and I made a card AFTER a 12+ hour day of work at about 11 at night on Friday (so you KNOW it had to really actually be easy, lol) as I didn't know if I had a wedding card and it was more fun to make one than to actually look for one.  I had to laugh in the morning as my hubby kind of freaked out about not having a card when we woke up.  I just looked at him and said it was taken care of....and then he said "and that's why I married you."  :-)  Guess it was the fact that he'd never have to rush out to buy a card ever again that reeled him in, LOL!  He actually tells people that, hahaha!

I usually do more "elegant" wedding cards but I'd been itching to use the wedding stamp from easy events simply because it was cute.  Thinking back I wish I would have embossed the image with black as to be a bit more fancy but it still turned out well I think...what about you?

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Easy events, tiny tags
Paper:  Whisper white, island indigo
Ink:  staz-on, island indigo, real red, lucky limeade
Accessories:  Jewelry punch, polka dot embossing folder, real red taffeta ribbon, crochet thread

The color combo of island indigo and real red is a bit out of the box for me but with all that white I wanted something striking.  I usually try to make a card in the wedding colors if I can but I wasn't sure what they were this time around.  I also realized I forgot to put some bling (either dazzling diamonds or dazzling details) on the heart but that's what happens when you stamp after that long at work and that late at night, haha.  I COULD have been home at 9:30 but I sent a kid to the ER so I had to go there to wait for him....BUT he never showed up...I was pretty mad since I had things I could have been doing at home and had to sit there waiting and then they didn't show up AND because he really needed an x-ray....guess we will see how that plays out tomorrow at practice!  Just a day in the life of an athletic trainer:-)  Anyway......

So that's my card and it was so easy!  And now also in honor of labor day I'm going to continue to do NOTHING and NOT labor....we DID go to the grocery store and I did take a nap so I've done SOMETHING today, lol!  And I do plan to go for a run since it's in the 60's here which is amazing and I do plan to stamp a little something tonight too....maybe ;-)  Hope you're enjoying whatever you're doing (or not doing) today!

Happy stamping and happy labor day!  Be sure to come back tomorrow for a new challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  Oh and I didn't forget about the SCS Creative Crew projects, I just didn't have as much down time as I thought I would at my mom's (which is always the case) since I was busy running around her new house deciding where furniture should go and what color to paint what and how to decorate and all that fun stuff!

Confuzzled

Hi stampers!  So I think I confused some people yesterday talking about football and soccer and sports.  We don't actually have kids yet BUT I work as an athletic trainer at a local high school so I'm actually busy with WORK and not kids or family:-)  But, busy is busy and on days like today with football games I work up to 16 or so hours.  Obviously not a lot of stamping time in there...however I did just make a wedding card since we have a wedding to go to um....tomorrow:-) 

On the days I do have time lately it seems that I've run out of mojo or been too tired, hate when that happens!  But I'm getting some cards made in fits and spurts anyway!  I can't imagine how little time I'll have when we finally DO have kids plus work, plus trying to fit working out in too!  I have to stamp and work out...they are just two of the basics of my life, hehe.  Feeling crummy now since I didn't get up and run this morning....but it was still dark out so I decided it was safer to stay in bed...that's what I told myself anyway;-)  But enough of my boo-hoo's.  Here is a quick card I made the other night:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Four frames, friendly phrases
Paper:  Calypso coral, whisper white, domestic goddess DSP
Ink:  Calypso coral, basic gray
Accesories:  Oval punch, decorative label punch, paper daisies, calypso coral ruffled ribbon, basic rhinestones

Isn't it cute???  It's actually inspired by a little card I saw at convention and I love the clean and simple yet cute design.  I wish I could get a whole pack of this pattern of paper from the domestic goddess line. I also love how the little frame is popped up and that sentiment is one of my new FAVE sets!  I guess it's just natural that a blabbermouth like myself would like sets with words and lots of fonts:-)  Here's the card I used for inspiration:

The colors are a bit off just from the lighting at convention.  Isn't it cute too!?!?  Maybe I should have done THIS for my wedding card!  I will need to make another version of this using the glitter like they did here too!  I love how this card shows how the domestic goddess line can be used for something else than just "homewares" type themed stuff.

Anyway, that's it...I'm done for after 13+ hours of work today.  I have to be up early to teach aerobics in the morning so I best get out of the stamp room and into bed!  See you soon!  Happy stamping!

Finding time...

to stamp is a real CHALLENGE!  Hi stampers!  Whew, it's busy around here with football and soccer in full swing, it's been hard for me to find the time to sit and stamp.  Or if I have the time I'm either too tired to actually do much other than flip channels or I haven't felt good.  I was all set to stamp my heart out last night but had some back pain so I ended up sitting/laying in funny positions all night to find some relief. Thankfully though, the pain was gone this morning although a headache had replaced it (it's always something, right) but I could teach my aerobics class. 

So I was determined to sit down and STAMP tonight (since I won't have a chance all weekend with a wedding and hanging out with my mom).  And not only did I stamp but I've cleaned up the kitchen AND done two loads of laundry!  Who-hoo!  I actually got three cards done too!  So not only have I been short on time lately but I've been feeling short on ideas/inspiration too.  So, what is a sure fire cure for that?  A challenge of course!  So I saw THIS challenge over on Create With Connie and Mary and knew it was the perfect place to start.  I had wanted to join in with the sketch challenge over there last week but ran out of time.  So, here is my entry for this week:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Wicked cool, spooky bingo bits
Paper:  Whisper white, rich razzleberry, pumpkin pie, lucky limeade
Ink:  Same
Accessories:  Frames embossing folder, spider web embossing folder, silver smooch spray and accent ink, circle punches, raven lace trim (retired)

Of course I had to do a Halloween card with this combo....we all know how much I love Halloween!  I think lucky limeade has replaced my beloved old olive, I just LOVE that color and it's PERFECT for Halloween.  I also broke out wicked cool from last year, I love those shoes!  The idea behind the embossed frame was to look like a vintage/antiqued picture frame so I sponged ink around the edge and then went around parts of it with the silver smooch accent ink.  It turned out pretty well I think, lookie:

I also sprayed the spider web panel with the silver smooch spray after rubbing my ink pad over the embossed parts.  I did use the lace trim from last year's  holiday mini as it just seemed like the perfect finishing touch.  I wish it would have stuck around, how cute would it be with the pick your poison suite this year????  The "boo" is from the spooky bingo bits and I just thought it was fun!

Ok, there ya go!  I'm happy I finally got some stamping in!  I think I get depressed when I don't get to stamp for a few days!!!!  I'm going to try to take some things along to work on this weekend although I'm not good at wanting to stamp if I don't have my whole stash at my disposal:-)  I'll also try to blog since I should have some time on my hands.  It was my debut on Splitcoat's Creative Crew (the SU only challenge team) today so I'm planning a HUGE post with all four of my projects!  You won't want to miss it!!!

Happy stamping!